ROBERTS REELS IN TITLE OF MISSOURI STATE CHAMPION

JACKSON -- In all of his years of fishing, it's likely Chuck Roberts of Jackson has hauled in a bass that weighed as much as his two-day total at the Missouri B.A.S.S. Federation state qualifying tournament held last October at Mark Twain Lake.

With a daily limit of five fish and a potential of 10 fish in the two-day tournament, Roberts' stringer contained just three fish that weighed a total of 9.5 pounds.

But what looked to be barely enough to feed three hungry fishermen, turned out to be enough to earn the crown of Missouri State Champion.

"We try to go up there once a year and normally take 15 pounds a day," said Roberts, a member of the local Mossback bass club. "It was unbelievable. We went up there the Sunday before and were there all week, so we knew the fishing was tough."

Roberts said a big fish kill in the Spring of 1995 and Fall of 1996 seriously depleted the numbers in the northwest Missouri lake.

The fishing was so tough not one of the 422 contestants caught their limit on either day. In fact two fish were the most anyone caught in a single day.

Roberts was one of those people, catching two fish for about a 6.5-pound total on Saturday.

Contestants were vying for one of the 12 spots on the Missouri team which would participate in the divisional tournament.

"I knew if I could catch one good 3-pound fish Sunday, I'd at least make the team," said Roberts.

Roberts, using a 5-inch Kalin's Grub, hooked into that 3-pounder on Sunday. The fish not only put him on the team, but won the individual title.

"I've been trying to do this for a long time," said Roberts, who has been a member of Mossback since 1976. "It's a pretty big honor, really. It's a chance to go to some of the big time tournaments. It's what you really shoot for. It's like making an all-star game."

Roberts was one of 10 members of the local Mossback club to participate and was one of two to qualify for the divisional tournament. The Mossback's Steve Schlick placed 11th to qualify for the 12-man divisional team. It will be Schlick's first district appearance.

Roberts will be making his seventh divisional tournament appearance. As state champion, he will serve as captain of the state team in June at Lake Eufuala in Oklahoma.

Both Roberts and Schlick, as well as their families, will have all their expenses paid for the trip to Lake Eufuala.

At the divisional, Missouri's 12-man team will compete against seven other state teams.

Roberts just laughed when asked how 9.5-pounds would fare in Oklahoma.

"It'll probably take 40 in the next one," said Roberts.

The ultimate goal is to reach the Bass Masters Classic in August. That tournament will consist of 40 of the top professionals and five B.A.S.S. Federation fishermen.

Mossback was one of 59 clubs to participate at the state qualifying tournament. Team members, in addition to Roberts and Schlick: Terry Homes, Terry Young, Tim Kluesner, Duane McKernan, Wayne Jones, Bruce Qualls, Chris Bowen and Joe Reiminger. Mark Nagel was the alternate.